Are we all old???

WDWpixieRN, RN · Oct 16, 2006

I have a friend that spent 23 years on a police force in Alaska. Retired then went back to school. He is now an ER doc in Portland OR. Never too late.

Wow....by my calculations, back in "those" days, you had to be a minimum of 21 to enter a police academy...meaning after 23 years, he had to be at least early 40's when he started med school...I can't EVEN imagine...at 50, I'm dying here in my first semester of NS wondering if this will all ever come together for me!! Congrats to him and best wishes to everyone else!!

akspudus · Oct 17, 2006

Wow....by my calculations, back in "those" days, you had to be a minimum of 21 to enter a police academy...meaning after 23 years, he had to be at least early 40's when he started med school...I can't EVEN imagine...at 50, I'm dying here in my first semester of NS wondering if this will all ever come together for me!! Congrats to him and best wishes to everyone else!!

Yup...he was in his mid 40's when he started med school. His only concern about his age was whether or not he would be paying student loans for the rest of his life.

When ever I get discouraged...I think of him. His story is the main reason why I decided to do what I wanted to do in school...instead of following the track of training the military gave me. Hmmm...Electrical Engineering or Nursing? For the E&E I was almost half way there....for nursing..I was starting over. But, working in the health care environment is what I wanted to do. It is never too late to do what you want to do.

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 17, 2006

I'm 33 and holding. :monkeydance: I'm still chugging away at my pre-req's and some co-req's. I had a co-worker on campus tell me that all of the old students always make good grades. My reply was, "of course we do sweetheart we don't have any time to lose."

Yes! I am also making the top grades in all my classes. My time-management and study skills are much better than my peers, and I seem to have a better sense of what's important and what's not. When you have limited time to spare you zero in on what counts!

charebec65 · Oct 17, 2006

I'm 34. After 16 years in the Coast Guard (13 Active, 3 Reserve) akspudus Miami Dade college

My hubby spent 9 years in the Coast Guard. Last station USCG Cutter Jarvis in Honolulu (though he spent most of the year in the Bering Sea those 3 years). Good luck in NS!

psychtech1 · Oct 18, 2006

Hi everyone! Wow I haven't been in here in a while!! I have been way to busy. But I think it is great that us 'older' students are going back to school. I am 35 and am in the process of starting my prereqs so hopefully in couple of years I can apply to the MSN program at DePaul. Up until two years ago I was a single mom and just managed to scrape out a Bachelor's degree (due to working, finances, time, etc.) now that I am geting married and my son and her kids are older, I can afford to go back to school full time. Just hope I have the stamina!! Kudos for everyone and good luck!!

Pepper

Lindie, RN · Oct 18, 2006

I'm 29, work a full-time job and taking my last two pre-requisites in hopes to get into the ASN program at my CC. :)

Kathyz · Oct 18, 2006

I'm 38, married and have a 17 year old son. My classmate who is 26 is afraid she'll never get into nursing school. I'm like "Girl, I'm almost 40. You're sooooo young."

I'm starting a program this January (finally!!!). I'll be done by the time I'm 40 and my son will be off to college . But when I'm working I won't be worried that he's sitting home w/ no dinner b/c he'll be in the college dining room. :mad:

It will be my husband who's home w/ no dinner.

wets · Oct 18, 2006

i am 49 and just started looking into schools. I want it bad and need to know how to speed things up. no previous health care experience. I have a BS in Civil Engineering, and almost an MBA. help!!

Brand new RN · Jun 21, 2007

I'm 33 and holding. :monkeydance: I'm still chugging away at my pre-req's and some co-req's. I had a co-worker on campus tell me that all of the old students always make good grades. My reply was, "of course we do sweetheart we don't have any time to lose."

Hey, hey, hey...the politically correct term for "old students" is non-traditional! LOL

I was told by the school counselor (when I stopped into her office and asked her what I needed to do to become a nurse) that "this school's non-traditional students have a record of doing very well". I left her office that day thinking..."Please Lord don't let me be the first to screw up those statistics!"

So far, so good...great GPA with acceptance into the ADN program on the first try...

I'm not even the oldest in my class they tell me...

ANd, hey...I'm practically older than dirt! LOL

greatan · Jun 21, 2007

Good for you. I just turned 44 in May and in my final quarter of lpn. Went from printing/graphics to nursing in a matter of year and a half after spending almost 20 years in printing. Got laid off unexpectedly, but it turned out for th best. Good luck. You can do it!

WDWpixieRN, RN · Jun 21, 2007

I'm not even the oldest in my class they tell me...And, hey...I'm practically older than dirt!

I see my last post to this thread was in October. I have since turned 51, completed my second semester of an ADN program, and am about to complete a summer student nurse internship in a local ER.

You are NOT older than dirt, and not older than the oldest student in MY class!! And I think in the class that just graduated there were a couple who were MUCH closer to 60 than we are.

You go!! You won't even get so much as a sideways glance because of your age in this profession. It's wonderful!!:icon_hug:

Hopeful N.S. · Jun 21, 2007

Hi.

I am 38 and just starting my prereqs this summer.

I work full time on the overnight shift and go to school during the day. I have two kids and alot of bills. :lol2:

It is hard!!! But I cannot wait for the day to finally have a job were I can make a difference.

Hopeful